Les avenues

Synopsis

In Le boulevard, Chris, a young man with an intellectually disability, had to learn to live on his own after his mother’s unexpected departure on his eighteenth birthday. The second part of the series, Au carrefour, focussed on his relationship with Chloé, his friendships and his rekindled relationship with his father.

This last novel completes the cycle of this young man who is “delayed.” Chris, who has been speaking to his mother in his head since her sudden departure, wishes more than anything that she would return. Maybe she would finally be proud of him. After all, he has gotten his driver’s licence, and more importantly he has become a young father, at 20. With the help of their entourage and despite their limitations, he and Chloé look after little Joseph rather well.

Having learned that his mother is living in Vancouver, Chris writes to her with the news and asks her to come back. Sylvie does, but the visit is a disaster. After just a few days, she abruptly goes back to Vancouver, leaving Chris under the impression that she has reported him to child welfare services. It takes Chris a while to work through his anger towards her and to stop idolizing her, while Sylvie must learn to accept her son as he is and make peace with herself.

Oscillating between funny and serious passages and commentary and dialogue whose apparent naivety is thought-provoking, Les avenues raises essential questions about accepting differences, parenting and the complex nature of feelings.